Form system and hardware for concrete construction



20, 1966 J. R. WILLIAMS 3,

FORM SYSTEM AND HARDWARE FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A A \gl I ll llulo I|' "'III .LLJ I LJJ .LILJJLLJ 48 Y j v v INVENTOR. 1 v 28 3I 2| JOHN R. WILLIAMS BY F 6. 2

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ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1966 J. R. WILLIAMS FORM SYSTEM AND HARDWARE FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Filed NOV- 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN R. WILLIAMS ATTORNEYS J. R. WILLIAMS FORM SYSTEM AND HARDWARE FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JOHN R. WILLIAMS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,292,893 FORM SYSTEM AND HARDWARE FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION John R. Williams, 2345 Darwin St., Hayward, Calif. 94545 Filed Nov. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 411,535 4 Claims. (Cl. 249-42) This invention relates generally to a form system for concrete construction and more particularlv to a form system employing modular forms. The invention also relates to hardware for use in such a system.

A common method of forming a concrete structure is to fabricate the forms in place. This type of forming is still in wide usage even though costly from both material and labor standpoint. After the pouring and setting of the concrete, the forms must be stripped. This, in general, requires a complete dismantling of the forms. The holes formed in the faces for insertion of tie rods and the damage during dismantling and handling results in a large percentage of the material having to be discarded. Each forming job requires that the forms be reconstructed. Thus, the labor cost is duplicated for each job.

To overcome the foregoing, a number of systems have been introduced which employ modular panels secured together by various types of hardware. Often, many different types of hardware as well as tools for using the same are required on a single job. Thus, some of the saving in labor due to the use of the panels is lost because of the expensive hardware and tools required. In many instances, conventional forming is used in connection with the modular forming. The prior art panel systems are not readily usable interchangeably or sideby-side with conventional forming. Where special forms are required, the construction crew is required to use non-conventiontal forming to accommodate to the panel system.

In my copending application Serial No. 315,172, filed October 10, 1963, now Patent No. 3,168,772, there is described an improved concrete form system. The concrete form system therein described includes rectangular panels held in cooperative relationship by internal corner locking members or elements. The locking elements cooperate with the tie rod assembly to provide a novel stripping action for stripping the forms from the concrete. The loads developed during the pour are transferred to bracing members by an external plate which cooperates with the tie rod assembly.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved form system for concrete construction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a concrete forming system of the type described in my copending application which includes means for distributing the load of the concrete between the external bracing and the internal portions of the panel.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a concrete forming system in which the load developed during a pour is distributed between the panel and the bracing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved locking element for form systems of the character described.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a locking element which includes means facilitating removal during disassembly.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more clearly apparent fiom the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing an assembly ice of the concrete forms in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View showing a corner joint with locking element and tie rod assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing the internal structure of the panel, and the locking element and tie rod assembly cooperating therewith FIGURE 4 is a view showing the concrete forms being stripped from the finished concrete;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of a rectangular panel in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view showing another corner locking element and tie rod assembly in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 7 shows a pair of panels forming a corner with a locking element associated therewith;

FIGURE 8 is an end view of a spacer cone used in the tie rod assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the spacer cone of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of another spacer cone; and

FIGURE 11 is a View taken along the line 1111 of FIGURE 10.

The present invention is an improvement of the invention described in my copending application Serial No. 315,172, filed October 10, 1963, now Patent No. 3,168,772.

The form system described in my copending application employs light-weight panels formed in modular sizes which may include variations in width and length, joined to one another and aligned at their corners by an internal locking element. The corner portions of the panels are constructed to receive tie rod assemblies which extend through the panels. The locking element holds the adjacent panels securely to one another and prevents relative movement between the same. The tie rod assembly and the locking element cooperate to facilitate stripping. In the present invention, the locking element cooperates with the tie rod assembly to distribute the load between the support posts disposed at the back of the panels and the interior of the panels. The locking element of the present invention includes means for facilitating removal of the same from the panels during stripping.

The panel employed with the present invention may be any-of the sandwich-type consisting of two faces or covers carried by a light-weight core. Preferably, the face members are waterproof and resistant to materials in the concrete. The faces may be made of wood, sheet metal, Fiberglas or the like. The faces may be formed of plywood, for example, with the exposed surfaces treated with plastic or the like. The core may be a honeycomb structure, foam plastic or any other suitable light-weight filling material capable'of providing relatively high compressive strength to maintain the spacing of the faces or covers.

One form of panel includes spaced faces of plywood treated with water repellant to protect the surface. Sandwiched therebetween is a core of cellular construction which likewise may be of wood slabs arranged edgewise between the faces. The side edges of the cells are sealed to the faces. Edging is provided around the entire edge of the panel and sealed to the faces. The corners of the panels are provided with slots adapted to receive locking elements to align and lock together adjacent panels, as will be presently described.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there are shown a pair of spaced walls 11 and 12 defining a concrete receiving space 13. In accordance with the present invention, these walls are made up of a plurality of rectangular panels 16. A typical panel is shown schematically in FIGURE 5. The panels in the lower portion of the figure are placed with their side edges in abutment with one another. The upper and lower edges of adjacent tiers or layers are also in abutment with one another. The lower row of panels may rest on a notched plate (not shown). The panels may be staggered as shown at the back panel wherein the side edges of the lower two panels meet while they cooperate with the center of the upper panel. The staggered assembly provides improved alignment.

Each corner of each panel includes a corner slot 21 more clearly illustrated in FIGURE 3. Where the panels are rectangular in shape, they may include a slot 22 formed the middle of the long edge as shown in the upper panel of FIGURE 3. As shown, the panels include a corner block 23 and a central block 24 secured to the spaced faces. The slots 21 and 22 may be formed with a circular saw. It is to be observed that the corner blocks 23 and the center block 24 are not cut all the way through. The block, therefore, provides a seal whereby concrete or water which might find its way into the slots 21 and 22 during a pouring operation will not find its way into the interior of the panel.

The panels include a locking pin 26 at each corner. The locking pin extends through the blocks 23 and bridges the slots 21. Preferably, the pin is made shorter than the thickness of the panel such as shown in FIGURE 2 and the opening formed in the skin 27 is sealed by a suitable plug 28, such as a dowl.

The panels are locked to one another at their corners by means of a substantially rectangular locking element 31 which has spaced notches 32 formed along its two edges. The spacing of the slots is such that when a locking element is placed in the slots of the panel, the notches extend over the spaced pins 26 of-adjacent panels and lock the panels together with their side edges in abutment as shown in FIGURE 3. The edges 33 of the notches may be inclined slightly outwardly whereby when the locking element is inserted, it serves to cam and urge firmly the adjacent panels 16 towards one another.

The locking element 31, preferably, also includes a pair of end notches 36, which notches have an upper inclined surface 37. The notches are positioned so that when the locking element 31 is inserted in a pair of adjacent panels, the upper edge of the notch is exposed whereby the notch can be engaged by a tool. The tool may, for example, be the end of a crowbar. This provides a convenient means for breaking loose the plate in the event it is bound in the slot.

Spaced holes 38 may be provided to receive spaced pins on a special tool. The tool would then rotate the locking element to free the same.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES l and 2, the tie rod assembly associated with the panel includes a tie rod 41, the ends of which are threadably received by spacer cones 42. The ends of the spacer cones include a square shank 43 which is adapted to fit into the notch 44 formed by the cooperating beveled edges 46 of the adjacent panels. When an elongated panel is inserted over the locking element, the notch in the upper panel or the notches formed by a pair of cooperating upper panels defines with the lower notch a square opening which receives the shank 43 of the cone and prevents rotation of the same. This acts, in essence, as a wrench or holding device.

The shank end of the cone 42 threadably receives an extension rod 47 which extends outwardly beyond the panels. The extension rod may threadably receive a spool-like member 48. The spool-like member is provided with a groove 49 adapted to receive and accommodate the associated locking element 31. The locking element includes an elongated notch 51 which, in assembled condition, depends downwardly over the extension rod and The extension rod includes a stop member 52 which:

serves to engage the spool 48 when the extension rod is unthreaded from the cone. When the stop 52 engages the I spool, further rotation of the rod will urge the side of the groove 49 against the edge of the notch of locking plate 31, and further rotation serves to urge the locking plate against the outside surface of the panel slot, as shown in FIGURE 4, and urge the panel outwardly as indicated by the arrow 53. Thus, unthreading of the extension rod serves to strip the form from the concrete'56.

During erection of the form system, the first tier of panels is put in place, and the tie rod assembly including extension rods, cones and tie rod is laid in the notches defined by the beveled edges of adjacent panels. The locking element is then placed over the extension rod in the groove formed in the spool-like member. The next tier of panels is then placed on top of the lower tier with the slots engaging the locking elements. A pair of vertical posts are then placed against the panels on each side of the extension rod. A back-up plate 57 is then placed over the extension rod and is engaged by the head 5801? the extension rod. The extension rod 58 is then threaded whereby the plate 57 is urged against the spaced vertical posts. other edge of the groove 49 against the locking element 31 to urge the locking element against the other surface of the slot. The end of the thread acts as a stop and applies pressure against the plate.

When concerete is poured and the load is applied to the panel, the locking plate 31 will serve to engage the adjacent surface of the notch 21, while the back-up plate 1 In certain instances, it may be desirable to provide a pair of spaced stops on the extension rod whereby the.

spool is engaged when the extension rod is threaded in- .wardly a given amount as well as when threaded outwardly. Referring to FIGURE 6, such an extension rod is shown carrying a pair of stops 71 and 72.. In other respects, the assembly is similar to that disclosed above.

Referring to FIGURE 7, there is shown a corner locking plate of the type described which includes a pair of end notches 73 providing means for engaging the plate to release the same. The corner plate is bent and includes,

as before, a pair of spaced edge notches 74 for engaging k associated corner pins. The locking element is employed for forming corners.

One type of cone is shown in FIGURES 10 and 11. and includes a cone portion 76 which terminates in a square shank 77 which is accommodated in the square opening formed by the cooperating panels and is maintained against rotation. The cone shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 also includes a shoulder 78 which engages the panel. In certain instances, it is desirable to provide a cone which may be accommodated in the square corner and which may move relative to the same. For such purpose, a cone of the type shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 may be employed. The cone has a conical portion 81 t and a square shank portion 82. However, the maximum width of the shank portion 82 is equal to the largest diameter of the conical portion whereby to eliminate any shoulder of the type such as shown at 78 in FIGURES 10 and 11. I claim:

1. A device for maintaining opposed walls of a concrete form in spaced relation for reception of concrete therebetween and each having a transverse opening in alignment with the opening of the other wall, comprising a tie Continued rotation will also serve to urge the.

rod having threaded ends, spacer cones having a threaded socket at the smaller ends engaged by the threaded ends of the rod, said cones also having a threaded socket at the larger end, extension rods extending through said openings and having threaded ends received in the sockets at the larger ends of the spacers, means on the spacer cones operatively engageable with the wall for retaining the spacers against rotation relative thereto, a thrust receiving element arranged for positioning on each of said walls and against movement longitudinally of said openings, and means on said extension rods positioned to engage both sides of said thrust receiving means and operative to urge said thrust receiving means inwardly to urge the panel towards an associated panel with rotation of the extension rod in one direction and operative to move said walls away from each other on rotation of the extension rod in an opposite direction.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said extension rods include a head at one end for threadably urging the same into the socket, support means are disposed adjacent said panels and a plate is interposed betwen said head and said means serving to urge said member against said means while urging said element inwardly.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said extension rods threadably receive a sleeve having spaced shoulders for engaging opposite sides of said plate, and said rod carries means afiixed thereto for engaging said threaded means upon rotation of said rod in one direction to prevent further movement of said means with respect to said rod.

4. A device for maintaining opposed walls of a concrete form in spaced relation for reception of concrete therebetween and each having a transverse opening in alignment with the opening of the other wall, comprising a tie rod having threaded ends, spacer cones having a threaded socket at the smaller ends engaged by the threaded ends of the rod, said cones also having a threaded socket at the larger end, extension rods extending through said openings and having threaded ends received in the sockets at the larger ends of the spacers, means on the spacer cones operatively engageable with the wall for retaining the spacers against rotation relative thereto, thrust receiving means arranged for positioning on each of said wallsand against movement longitudinally of said openings, and means on said extension rods adapted to selectively engage either side of said thrust receiving means and operative to urge said thrust receiving means inwardly with rotation of the extension rod in one sense and operative to move said thrust receiving means outwardly with rotation of the extension rod in an opposite sense.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 779,288 1/1905 Lane 249-38 2,486,683 11/1949 Sass 249-213 2,775,018 '12/ 1956 McLaughlin 2492l6 3,168,772 2/1965 Williams 2492l7 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

G. A. KAP, R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING OPPOSED WALLS OF A CONCRETE FORM IN SPACED RELATION FOR RECEPTION OF CONCRETE THEREBETWEEN AND EACH HAVING A TRANSVERSE OPENING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE OPENING OF THE OTHER WALL, COMPRISING A TIE ROD HAVING THREADED ENDS, SPACER CONES HAVING A THREADED SOCKET AT THE SMALLER ENDS ENGAGED BY THE THREADED ENDS OF THE ROD, SAID CONES ALSO HAVING A THREADED SOCKET AT THE LARGER END, EXTENSION RODS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENINGS AND HAVING THREADED ENDS RECEIVED IN THE SOCKETS AT THE LARGER ENDS OF THE SPACERS, MEANS ON THE SPACER CONES OPERATIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE WALL FOR RETAINING THE SPACERS AGAINST ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO, A THRUST RECEIVING ELEMENT ARRANGED FOR POSITIONING ON EACH OF SAID WALLS AND AGAINST MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID OPENINGS, AND MEANS ON SAID EXTENSION RODS POSITIONED TO ENGAGE BOTH SIDES OF SAID THRUST RECEIVING MEANS AND OPERATIVE TO URGE SAID THRUST RECEIVING MEANS INWARDLY TO URGE THE PANEL TOWARDS AN ASSOCIATED PANEL WITH ROTATION OF THE EXTENSION ROD IN ONE DIRECTION AND OPERATIVE TO MOVE SAID WALLS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER ON ROTATION OF THE EXTENSION ROD IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION. 